Israel Ranks Fourth in Europe for Teen Social Media Addiction Amid Rising Screen Time
A recent study reveals a sharp increase in social media addiction among Israeli teenagers, with rates nearly quadrupling from 4.1% in 2019 to 16.3% in 2025. This surge places Israel fourth in Europe for youth social media addiction, behind Romania, Malta, and Bulgaria. The findings come from the multinational HBSC study by the World Health Organization, with the Israeli segment led by Professor Yossi Harel-Fisch of Bar-Ilan University, conducted in cooperation with the Ministries of Education and Health.
The study surveyed 7,424 students from grades 7 to 12 and found that 28.7% spend six or more hours daily on screens outside school hours, with girls (32.7%) exceeding boys (24.6%). Addiction rates are slightly higher among girls (16.8%) than boys (15.8%), and significantly higher in the Arab sector (20.2%) compared to Jewish students (15.2%). The research distinguishes between screen time and addiction, noting that only half of heavy screen users are classified as addicted.
Professor Harel-Fisch attributes the continued rise in Israel to the prolonged impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing war, which contrasts with other European countries where addiction rates stabilized post-pandemic. The study also highlights exposure to nationalist and antisemitic content related to the war, with 32.4% of teens encountering such discourse online.
Experts emphasize the need to develop safe digital habits rather than combat technology itself. Dr. Odet Sela from the Ministry of Education announced expanded restrictions on personal phone use during school hours for middle school students starting in the 2023-24 school year, citing research on negative effects on learning and social interaction. Einav Look, head of the Ministry’s Psychological Counseling Service, stresses the importance of balanced screen use to foster social and emotional skills.
Parents face daily struggles managing their children’s screen time, acknowledging the challenge of competing with the instant gratification offered by digital devices. One mother of three described efforts to delay screen exposure for her eldest child, while recognizing the difficulty in maintaining a healthy balance amid the digital age’s pervasive influence.
